What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer which is also known as renal cancer is the condition in which kidney cells become malignant and grow, thus forming a tumor which often becomes out of control. The kidney cancer initially appears in the lining of tiny tubes in the kidney. Such type of kidney cancer is termed as renal cell carcinoma. Usually, most of the kidney cancer display adequate early sign or symptoms on the basis of which they are found before they spread to distant organs or in a threatening condition. According to Anshuman Agarwal - a senior and experienced urologist, when kidney cancer is detected early, it is easy to cure the condition successfully.
Diagnosis of kidney cancer
There are various tests and other procedure conducted by the kidney doctor to determined the kidney cancer. It may include as such below:
Imaging Test
The imaging test is one of the prominent diagnosis procedure that helps the doctor to visualize the kidney tumor or any sign of abnormality. Imaging test may comprise an ultrasound, a computerized tomography scan (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Blood and urine tests
The doctor may conduct blood and urine test to find out kidney cancer. The outcome of the blood and urine test may facilitate the doctor significant clue to find out what is causing the particular signs and symptoms.
Biopsy
In this procedure, the doctor removes a small sample of cells from the suspicious area of the patient's kidney. It is then tested in the lab for signs of cancer.
Treatment for Kidney Cancer
Once the diagnosis procedure is over and your doctor identifies the stage of kidney cancer, he will plan the treatment accordingly. There are various kind of standard types of kidney cancer treatment. Surgery is the first option, however, even surgery abolish the entire tumor, the doctor may persist with further treatment to annihilate the remaining cancer cells that cannot be seen.
Surgery for kidney cancer
The type of surgery performed by the doctor to cure kidney cancer largely depends on the stage of cancer. These surgeries may include as such below:
Radical Nephrectomy: The procedure comprises removal of the kidney, adrenal gland as well as adjacent tissue. Dr Anshuman Agarwal who is involved bulk of such surgeries says that sometimes we have to remove nearby lymph nodes as well. He further adds that it is a very common surgery for kidney cancer which is now can be performed through with a small incision with a laparoscope.
Partial Nephrectomy: In this procedure, the doctor, along with cancer in the kidney, also removes some tissue around it. This procedure is ideal for patients with relatively smaller tumors. It may be a practical option for those also in which a radical nephrectomy might jeopardize the other kidney.
Simple Nephrectomy: It includes the removal of the kidney only.
Other Therapy and Treatment
Cryotherapy: In this procedure, the doctor utilizes excessive cold to annihilate the tumor.
Radiofrequency ablation: It is done by inserting a needle-like probe through your skin and utilizes high-energy radio waves to destroy the tumor.
Arterial embolization: The procedure involves the insertion of material into an artery that blocks blood flow to the tumor.
Targeted therapy: The doctor uses drugs or other substances to locate targeted cancer cells that is less toxic to normal cells.
Chemotherapy: It is usually preferable for a specific type of kidney cancer. The doctor uses drugs to kill cancer cells or thwart them from multiplying.
Radiation therapy: This is the procedure in which kidney cancer treatment expert utilizes high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to destroy cancer cells or prevent their growth.
By utilizing the above mentioned treatment methods kidney cancer can be clinically and effectively treated.